Vancouver men who have sex with men can get tested online

Hey guys, now you've got even less excuses for not getting checked for sexually transmitted infections.

The BC Centre for Disease Control and Health Initiative for Men have joined forces to make it even easier for gay, bisexual, and all other men who have sex with men (MSM) to get tested through Canada's first web-based program.

For those who are unable to or don't want to visit a clinic in person, or who want to get tested more frequently, Get Checked Online offers a convenient alternative. This option might particularly interest those who have privacy concerns.

Users will have to fill out a form to determine which tests are required. Users print out the form and then take it to one of six participating LifeLabs location in Vancouver, where they will take blood and urine samples.

An email will notify you when test results are ready. If results are negative, they will be displayed on your account online. If results are positive or inconclusive, you will be given contact information to discuss retesting or treatment.

Something to note is that Get Checked Online does not test for all STIs.

If you want to be tested for anything other than chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis C, you will need to visit a clinic or a doctor in person.

Sexual health conditions that aren't covered by the online program include:

• genital herpes

• human papillomavirus (HPV)

• hepatitis A or B

• trichomoniasis

• yeast infection

• bacterial vaginosis

• chlamydia and gonorrhea in the throat or rectum

This service may expand to other places in B.C. in the future.

In conjunction with the free, confidential service, HIM launched an awareness campaign called Just Makes Sense with a website that helps to outline what the service is.

They've also made some humorous videos, such as this one. (But no, this doesn't mean that your cat can get tested too.)